Chief Innovation Officer (CInO)

Job Title: Chief Innovation Officer (CInO)

Role Summary

The Chief Innovation Officer is responsible for driving enterprise-wide innovation, identifying new growth opportunities, and fostering a culture of experimentation. This role leads the development of new products, services, business models, and partnerships to ensure long-term competitiveness and market differentiation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Innovation Strategy & Vision

• Define and execute the organization's innovation strategy aligned with business goals

• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and market disruptions

• Advise executive leadership on future growth opportunities

1. New Product & Business Model Development

• Lead ideation, incubation, and scaling of new products, services, and ventures

• Explore new revenue streams, including digital and platform-based models

• Drive concept validation through pilots, MVPs, and rapid experimentation

1. Innovation Programs & Labs

• Establish and manage innovation labs, accelerators, and incubators

• Implement structured innovation frameworks (design thinking, lean startup)

• Run hackathons, innovation challenges, and internal idea programs

1. Emerging Technology & Partnerships

• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT, etc.)

• Build partnerships with startups, universities, and technology providers

• Lead corporate venture and open innovation initiatives

1. Culture & Change Management

• Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and experimentation

• Promote cross-functional collaboration and idea sharing

• Drive organizational change toward a growth and innovation mindset

1. Portfolio Management & Governance

• Manage innovation portfolio, prioritization, and funding allocation

• Track KPIs such as ROI, time-to-market, and innovation pipeline health

• Ensure alignment with enterprise strategy and risk frameworks

1. Commercialization & Scaling

• Transition successful pilots into scalable business solutions

• Work with product, technology, and business teams to operationalize innovations

• Measure and communicate business impact of innovation initiatives

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred)

• 15–20+ years of experience in innovation, strategy, product, or technology leadership

• Proven track record of launching new products or business models

• Experience working with startups, ecosystems, or venture initiatives

• Strong understanding of digital technologies and market trends

Key Competencies

• Strategic and forward-thinking mindset

• Creativity and problem-solving ability

• Strong business and commercial acumen

• Leadership and influence across functions

• Ability to drive change and cultural transformation

Typical Reporting Line

• Reports to: CEO / Chief Strategy Officer

• Direct reports: Heads of Innovation Labs, Venture/Partnerships, New Product Development

Originally posted on Himalayas